John E. Hand

John Elemual Hand of Warsaw, Indiana passed away at Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester, Indiana surrounded by family at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the age of 89.

He was born on September 9, 1930 in Elkhart, Indiana to Charles E. and Minnie H. (Helbling) Hand.  He was married on January 19, 1957 to Shirley Ann (Stebbins) Hand, who survives.

John was a 1948 graduate of Warsaw High School and was very proud of becoming an Eagle Scout.  He attended Purdue University from 1948-1953 receiving his B.S. in chemical engineering degree with a minor in math.  John entered the U.S. Army in 1952 and served as a 1st Lieutenant during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged.  He moved to Sanford, North Carolina where he worked as the chief engineer at Cornell Dubilier, manufacturing capacitors.  In 1984 John and his wife Shirley moved back to Warsaw where he became president and later CEO of Othy/Symmetry in Warsaw and retiring in 1995.  John was always one to keep busy that even after retirement he started Lake City Enterprise which he operated until 2006. 

He loved giving back to the community and providing support to the organizations he loved, he was a long standing member of Warsaw Rotary Club, past president for 6 years of The Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts in Warsaw, member of the Purdue Club, and he attended First United Methodist Church of Warsaw. 

John will be remembered as being a very patient man, kind and always encouraging and mentoring others to do their best.  Most of all he will be forever loved as being a wonderful husband, father and grandfather.    

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 62 years, Shirley Ann Hand (Warsaw, Indiana); daughter, J.E. Hand; son, John G. (Florell) Hand (Warsaw, Indiana); and his two grandchildren, Jessica and John Dillon.  He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers: Ferdinand, Leon, Edward, William “Bill”, and his sister, Dorothy.

Friends and family are invited to visit from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 4, 2019 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana.  

John’s life will be celebrated with a service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home and officiated by Pastor Brian Smith.  A private family entombment will be at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Indiana.  

Memorial donations in John’s name may be directed to the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, 2515 E. Center Street, Warsaw, Indiana  46580; or to First United Methodist Church, 179 S. Indiana Street, Warsaw, Indiana  46580 and would be appreciated by the family.

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